Category: Policy

New AppleTV & George Orwell

Short version: Unless you are wanting to play a few games on your TV, or unless you want to cut the cable cord, the new 1st gen TV is a total pass. Version 1 of the tvOS is, as has become standard practice for Apple’s new products, a big step backwards. The foundation they have set in place has potential… Continue reading

TWIR #2: Relationship between Baltimore and Marriage Equality? [Updated]

The Week in Review: Topic Two—Let’s look at the relationship between the tragic events in Baltimore this week and the historic arguments presented before the Supreme Court for marriage equality… Yes, only my mind thinks like this!1 When you have been taught that you have a constitutional democracy for, by, and of the people2, and you believe that government is… Continue reading

Bob Jones III Must Be Elated!

In the early 1980’s, then “university” president Bob Jones III publicly called for the stoning of gay people. I know. Seems crazy. (All the fumes from that musty art work in the gallery not to mention playing dress up with all of the priceless costumes in the Rodeheaver Auditorium costume shop!) But, yes, he actually called for the murder of… Continue reading

Corporations Versus People

I think we live in the strangest of times: Corporations are considered people, and people are considered mere data points: test scores in school and profit margins as adults. And I continue to be revolted by religion, all over the world, including the fundamentalist movement in this nation, that tries to control women’s sexuality. It’s just some perverse, bizarre fixation… Continue reading

The Week in School: Militarized Schools & Poverty

I make it a personal policy to work very hard not to swear like a sailor on my blog. At times this self-imposed policy is profoundly hard for me. The first part of this post, especially, is one such moment: Militarization of public schools. San Diego School District Purchases 18-Ton Military Surplussed Armored Vehicle This falls in the “What the… Continue reading

Why Ordinary People Need to Understand Power

I thought of our nation’s social studies teachers when I saw this excellent video on the civic responsibility we have to teach social studies as the study of power. It’s an interesting take on middle and high school education, at the very least. Eric Liu makes some very provocative and important points in this 19 minute video. One of his… Continue reading

Your Local Police Militarization

Does this not concern anyone but me?! Does this make you feel safer??! This is insane! We are running in the wrong direction as fast as we can. Why? Police militarization is hurting the wrong people. Is government anticipating our running out of drinking water because of all of the fracking poisoning the drinking water or because of the depletion… Continue reading

Preferred Suicide Destinations

I find it incomprehensible that 50 people commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge every year. Security forces and passersby talk down from the ledge about another 100 people who are intent on killing themselves. This means that ever 2 to 3 days, someone attempts suicide from the bridge, and about every third person succeeds. All told, in… Continue reading

Elon Musk: Mind of an Innovator

really enjoy hearing what smart people think, what they say. This week Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, was interviewed on All in with Chris Hayes—two very bright young men making a positive difference in our world. Tesla has recently announced that they will let anyone use their intellectual property, their pattens, free of charge as long as they use… Continue reading